3 worst contracts currently on the KC Royals roster

For a wind range of reasons, there are player contracts on the KC Royals that are causing distress. We will take a look at three different situations.

Earlier, we pointed out three contracts that are great bargains for the KC Royals organization.  Now we look at which ones are not so fantastic deals.  It is not just the amount of money on the contract but other factors as well.

With a new owner in place and a new TV deal that will inject dollars into the franchise the hope among the fan base is that more money is allocated to improving the team starting in 2021.  In the last stages of a rebuilding phase and returning to competitive baseball, the Royals still need to be wise with the deals they make.

When you look at the overall payroll numbers, there are not many sore thumbs that stick out.  Currently, only three players will make over $10 million for the 2020 season.  It is safe to say the franchise is in no jeopardy of paying the luxury tax.

And it is important to note that having one of the top-five overall salaries overall in baseball does not mean you cannot be competitive and win a World Series (it does not hurt either).  Back in 2015, Kansas City was only 12-highest in the league and still brought home the title.

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It is important, though, to sign reasonable contracts with free agents and to lock in young players not quite eligible for full-blown free agency to longer deals that cover at least the first two seasons of their chance to test the market.  The Whit Merrifield contract is a great example of that.

The following three contracts are based on different factors and at least one of them cannot be corrected this season.  It is possible to fix the other two and it would be wise for the KC Royals to do so.

Please put the knives away, no way is it being suggested the money being spent on his contract is bad for the team.

While the KC Royals did give Jorge Soler a nice pay raise in the offseason to $7 million dollars, it only is for the 2020 season.  He is an Arb 1 player for this year and will be a full-blown free agent in 2022.

He has been known to have injury issues and this was the first year Soler showed the promise that fans hoped for.  He endeared himself to the Royal faithful by smashing the single-season home run record and played in all 162 games.

If the team does not lock him up for a few years now, chances are they will be outbid when he becomes a free agent in 2022.  It is a gamble as to whether he can bash consistently and staying off the injured list for extended periods of time.  It is a risk worth taking though.

If he hits another 35 bombs or more his arbitration salary will jump up again in 2021 and drive up his value for his free agency year.  Getting him locked in for a few more seasons is necessary.

Many people dream of earning a paycheck while sitting at home.  The KC Royals made it possible for one player.

To his credit, Wily Peralta is not resting on his laurels and is in camp with the Milwaukee Brewers. If it does not work though, he still has guaranteed money coming from the Royals.

The signing of Peralta was a bit of a head-scratcher going into the 2018 season.  His best season had been two years earlier when he started 32 games for the Milwaukee Brewers and went 17-11.  It was the only time in a four-year span he had an ERA+ above 100.

In 2017 Peralta had an extremely tough season putting up a 7.85 ERA in 19 totals games, including eight starts.  The Royals signed him for 2018 and converted him into a full-time relief role. It did return some positive results.  He saved 14 games, struck out a batter per inning, and had his best WHIP since 2014.

There were some warning signs with a WHIP of 1.485 and a WAR, while positive, was only 0.4.  He had trouble with control was present with 23 walks recorded in only 34 1/3 innings pitched.

In 2019, the wheels came completely off as Peralta’s ERA climbed over 2.00 points and he only struck out five more batters than he issued bases on balls to.  He yielded a home run roughly every five innings pitched and that tied the worst HR/9 ration in his career.  Ultimately, Kansas City parted ways with Peralta in July.

The result is that the team will be paying Peralta one million dollars to not be with the Royals this year.  It is not an absurd number, less than double minimum wage in baseball.  It is an example of taking the chance on a player who hurt more than helped though.